Pune: Dr Deepak Tilak, the great-grandson of freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak and editor of the daily 'Kesari', passed away today due to age-related ailments at his residence. He was 74.
He is survived by his son, Congress leader Rohit Tilak, along with his daughter and grandchildren.
His mortal remains have been kept for public darshan at historical Kesari Wada.
The last rites will be conducted at Vaikunth Crematorium at noon.
Dr Tilak served as the Vice-Chancellor of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth. He was also the president of the Tilak Smarak Trust and the Vaktrutva Uttejak Sabha. Under the Tilak Smarak Trust, the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Memorial Awards are presented annually to individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields.
The Vaktrutva Uttejak Sabha is known for organizing the renowned Ranade Debate Competition and the Vasant Lecture Series across Maharashtra.
Dr Tilak made significant contributions to the promotion of the Japanese language in India. In recognition of this, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs honoured him with a special award in 2021. He also played an important role in promoting sports, especially judo, by supporting athletes and encouraging participation in the sport.